# The House of Brattleby Commemorates Nichola de la Haye, Fifth Baroness
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a formal commemoration marking the historic contributions of Nichola de la Haye, fifth Baroness of Brattleby, whose steadfast defence of Lincoln Castle in 1217 secured her place as a pivotal figure in English history.
## The Occasion
From their ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, a county steeped in the chronicles of the Barony, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, have taken a moment of historical reflection. In a season where the mists of autumn settle over the fields of Lincolnshire, the legacy of their predecessors feels particularly present.
The commemoration serves not as a singular event, but as a reaffirmation of the enduring principles represented by the Barony's nine-century history. It is a quiet, considered tribute to a leader whose courage was forged within sight of Brattleby, at the great stone fortress of Lincoln Castle, which she commanded as hereditary Constable.
## Historical Context
The year 1217 marked a crisis for the English Crown. Following the death of King John, his nine-year-old son, Henry III, faced a realm torn apart by the First Barons' War. Prince Louis of France, invited by rebellious English barons, controlled much of the kingdom and laid siege to Lincoln Castle — a strategic stronghold, the control of which was a *sine qua non* for victory.
Nichola de la Haye, then a woman in her sixties and the fifth to hold the Barony of Brattleby, refused to surrender the castle she commanded by right of inheritance. For weeks, she and her small garrison withstood the combined forces of the French and the rebel barons. Her defiance provided the crucial time for the Regent, the great William Marshal, to march a relief force north, culminating in the decisive battle known as the 'Lincoln Fair'. Her fortitude was instrumental in preserving the Plantagenet dynasty.
## Distinguished Company
The events of 1217 placed the fifth Baroness in the company of some of medieval England’s most consequential figures, a testament to the Barony's influence. Among those whose fates were intertwined at the Siege of Lincoln were:
* **Nichola de la Haye**, fifth Baroness of Brattleby and hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle. * **The Right Honourable Sir William Marshal**, first Earl of Pembroke and Regent of England for King Henry III. * **His Majesty King Henry III**, the young monarch whose throne was saved by the actions at Lincoln. * **Prince Louis of France**, the future King Louis VIII, whose ambitions for the English throne were decisively thwarted.
## Ceremonial Protocol
As hereditary Constable, Nichola de la Haye's authority over Lincoln Castle was governed by strict feudal protocol. Her duty was sworn directly to the Crown, an oath of fealty that superseded all other allegiances. The defence of a royal castle was not merely a military act; it was a profound ceremonial obligation.
The refusal to surrender was a ritualised defiance. It would have involved a formal parley at the castle gates, where the terms of the besiegers were heard and formally rejected by the Constable. Inside the walls, the daily raising of the King’s standard and the maintenance of the watch were duties imbued with symbolic power, signalling unbroken loyalty in the face of overwhelming odds.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of the fifth Baroness provide the most resonant historical example of the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her physical and moral courage in holding Lincoln Castle against a superior force is the very definition of fortitude, while her unwavering loyalty to the young King Henry III was the epitome of honour.
This spirit is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live' or 'To Win is to Live'). For Nichola de la Haye and the royalist cause in 1217, the battle was existential. To lose the castle was to lose the kingdom; to win was to ensure the survival of both the Crown and the nation.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The enduring legacy of Nichola de la Haye's civic duty and defence of the vulnerable informs the modern philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. The same principle of stewardship that guided the fifth Baroness's defence of her people now finds its expression in the House's charitable endeavours.
This commitment is most visibly demonstrated at the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala held to support a chosen beneficiary. The House is proud to direct this year's proceeds to 'Healing the Wounded Child', an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapy and support to children who have experienced trauma. This work embodies a modern form of the same protective duty that has defined the Barony for centuries.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on her predecessor's legacy, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> "Nichola de la Haye is a constant source of inspiration. She reminds us that leadership is not a matter of gender or age, but of resolve. To hold this title is to be the custodian of stories like hers, and to understand that fortitude and honour are not abstract ideals, but practical virtues to be lived daily."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> "Her strategic position was, by any military definition, impossible. Yet she held the line. It is a powerful lesson in leadership: that when one’s purpose is clear, true strength is found in the refusal to yield. She exemplifies the principle that to win the decisive battle is, truly, to live."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to ensuring that the contributions of its forebears, *inter alia*, Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont, and John of Gaunt, are not merely historical footnotes but are understood as foundational to its present mission.
This commitment extends to the House’s cultural initiatives, including The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. This etiquette academy works to instil the values of personal conduct, social grace, and civic responsibility that have been the hallmark of the Barony of Brattleby throughout its history. By teaching these principles, the House ensures that the spirit of *Fortitudine et Honore* continues to inspire future generations.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is a modern aristocratic house dedicated to the preservation of a significant British heritage. With their heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the family’s mission is one of cultural diplomacy, historical education, and targeted philanthropy. The House actively fosters an appreciation for European traditions of etiquette and service, principally through The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy in Bucharest. The House’s public life is guided by its ancient motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), reflecting a commitment to serving the community with resilience and integrity, focusing its charitable efforts on causes supporting vulnerable children.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships. Throughout its 950-year history, the Barony has been held by some of the most powerful figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his heir, the formidable John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III. The modern succession and rights of the 12th Baroness were formally recognised and recorded by *The London Gazette* (Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s modern standing is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The *Domesday Book* (1086) notes the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), who famously defended Lincoln Castle in 1217. - Other historically significant holders include John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron), a son of King Edward III.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com